All Rise...

The Charge

It's the time of the season for loving.—"Time of the
Season"

The Case

The Zombies suffer from the tragic distinction of being a band who hit a
creative and commercial zenith after they broke up. For most of the 1960s, they
were relegated to also-ran status, despite the talents of singer Colin Blunstone
and keyboardist Rod Argent, the Zombies' key creative talents. Even though they
racked up two Top 40 hits, "She's Not There" and "Tell Her
No," the Zombies were never taken as seriously as their British Invasion
peers like the Rolling Stones, the Animals, and the Yardbirds. After several
unsuccessful attempts at breaking through in the United States, the Zombies
broke up in 1968. Shortly before, however, they had recorded their swan song, a
concept album called Odessey & Oracle, that they had put more effort
into than any other. After superstar producer Al Kooper (Bob Dylan, Lynyrd
Skynyrd) lobbied hard for the album to be released in the U.S., Odessey &
Oracle became the biggest album in the band's career and spawned what would
be their third and arguably most famous hit, "Time of the Season."
Sadly, by that point, the band was no more, but fans always hoped to see the
band actually perform these songs live.

In 2008, these fans finally got their wish. The Zombies reunited in March
2006 at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London to perform the album and other songs.
Captured on The Zombies: Odessey & Oracle (Revisited): The 40th
Anniversary Concert, the concert is split up into two parts. In the first,
Blunstone and Argent perform various Zombies and solo songs with a touring band.
In the second, original Zombies Chris White and Hugh Grundy join them to perform
all of Odessey & Oracle in its entirety, as well as the Zombies' two
other hits. Here are the set lists for both parts.

The first half of the show is much more interesting than you might think.
Though there aren't any famous Zombies songs here, the songs that are present
are unusual and well-performed. The highlights include some songs from
Blunstone's solo album performed with a string quintet. Blunstone's voice is
just as haunting and evocative as ever and the string arrangements sound
beautiful without overwhelming his singing. His version of Tim Hardin's
"Misty Roses," in particular, is exquisite and of the show's
highlights. For his part, Argent gets two showcase numbers from his solo band,
including his biggest hit "Hold Your Head Up," that showcase his
harder-edged side. Though some fans might balk at the fact that the majority of
the musicians in this section are hired hands, the musicianship is sterling, and
the performances and songs are too good to pass up watching.

Of course, most fans will be more interested in the second half, where
Blunstone and Argent are joined by bassist Chris White and drummer Hugh Grundy,
the other surviving members of the original Zombies (original guitarist Paul
Atkinson passed away in 2004). The Odessey & Oracle material is good,
but these performances are admittedly not as instantly compelling as the earlier
songs. Part of the problem is that these songs were never intended to be
performed live—they were strictly studio creations in the manner of the
Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album. Consequently, the live arrangements don't
always do the songs justice, especially on the more complex tunes like
"Butcher's Tale." The Zombies' vocal harmonies are as potent as ever
and the full complement of backing musicians do help round out the songs as much
as possible, but there's just no way that the sound is ever going to match the
studio versions. Also, it doesn't help that while Argent and Blunstone have
continued to tour and record regularly, the other members are a bit more rusty
and under-rehearsed. Nonetheless, it's genuinely fascinating to hear these songs
performed live and the band really comes together for the final rousing numbers,
which are the three biggest hits in their career. There's just too much good
music here to pass up. While you shouldn't expect a flawless or consistent
performance, the best moments here are worth seeing if you've ever been
interested in the Zombies' music.

Technically the disc is good, though not great. The anamorphic 1.78:1
transfer is solid, with little grain or artefacting. The Dolby 2.0 mix is loud
and nicely balanced, allowing for a crisp and clear sound that shows off every
instrument and vocal clearly. It's a shame, however, that MVD didn't spring for
a 5.1 mix, especially since the more complex pieces would sound stellar this
way. The only extra is what appears to be an excerpt (13:51) from a longer
Zombies video biography in which the band members discuss the recording of
Odessey & Oracle. The disc also comes with extensive liner notes
regarding the concert.

Ultimately, Odessey & Oracle is worth a look for anyone who likes
the Zombies' music. It may not be a perfect concert, but there is so much good
music here that it's still a worthy way to discover the Zombies' best songs.
Fans in particular will be pleased with the mixture of hits and obscurities and
the band members' exuberance at finally getting to give these songs the
performances they deserve is infectious. It's not an ideal introduction to the
Zombies' music, but it is an entertaining watch.

The Verdict

Not guilty.

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